This blog post is courtesy of Taryn, who was wonderful enough to post about it on her own blog, as I was the sick prayer director/greeter, who ended up just sneaking in for a few minutes, barely, to see it all. Thanks, Taryn!
It was after 10pm
when we left the church last night, hoping we had as much as possible prepared
for worship this morning. In the night, we were awakened by thunder and
lightning and rain (Praise God!) at 1:45. Also during the wee hours, a family's
little boy was hospitalized for recurring seizures, and we were awakened with
texts from Pastor Todd that he was stable but being transferred to the
children's hospital in Peoria. That also meant our children's director and some
of the teachers wouldn't be there today, because they are the little guy's
family, and Pastor Todd would be going on next to no sleep, as he went to the
hospital at 5am this morning.
So, while we were
excited about our first morning in the new building, our hearts were heavy for
our little friend in the hospital and so many other physical and emotional
struggles going on within our church family. We were exhausted from working so
hard physically this week. But, we recognize that we are in a fight. Satan
doesn't want another church in town preaching and praising and worshipping
Jesus. Our excitement and love for God is much stronger than the devil!
So, we got up at
5am and we did church! Jeremy was there by 6:30, I think, making sure the
building was clean and things were ready for people to come in. I took Caeden
in at 7:30 for praise band practice.
Things were not
"perfect." Our drummer was sick, so we had only one keyboard and one guitar and
4 singers...which is still plenty enough to lift praise. Our prayer director,
who is also a greeter, had become sick in the night, and wasn't able to be there
to lead our pre-service prayer time...But we still prayed, and God was with
us!
We let God lead the
way He wanted to service to go, including Angela being prompted to add in the
"old" song Holy Ground and reading of much of 2 Chronicles 6-7 as we, in a way, dedicated the temple to the
Lord today.
We still have a lot of chairs to fill. There
were nearly as many in the children's area as in the sanctuary today. But, it
is not about the numbers of people; it is about lives changing.
God is working out amazing stories in lives of
this church, and in the lives of those we know and love. We are privileged to
be a part of His plan! It is exciting!
Even while we work hard on the details of
planting a church, we work hard at the personal things--prayer, worship,
ministering to the sick and hurting, helping those in need, having fun together,
studying the Bible, reaching out to others...these are what the church really
does, the most important things.
We all knew the Holy Spirit was with us this
morning. He comforted us, gave us joy and peace, made us glad, and reminded us
that He keeps His promises. We had a beautiful time of worship and learning and
prayer together.
Our announcement time turned into an impromptu
launch team meeting after church. We all received PoC pens, invitation business
cards, and flyers about 3 fundraisers we're having this week. Though we've been
able to accomplish a lot, there is still a great deal to do.
“But will God indeed dwell with
man on the earth? Behold, heaven
and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have
built! 19 Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his
plea, O Lord my
God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before
you, 20 that
your eyes may be open day and night toward this house, the place where you have
promised to set your name, that you may listen to the prayer that your servant
offers toward this place. 21 And listen to the pleas of your servant and of your
people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen from heaven your
dwelling place, and
when you hear, forgive."
- 2 Chronicles 6:18-21
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